Dr. Carrie L. Byington will assume the position of executive vice president of UC Health on Oct. 31 — after the retirement of Dr. John Stobo, who has been accused of sexual harassment — according to a Thursday press release from the UC Office of the President, or UCOP.
UC Health serves a web of hospitals, professional schools and students. Byington currently works as the vice chancellor of health services at the Texas A&M University System while simultaneously serving as senior vice president of the Texas A&M Health Science Center as well as the Jean and Thomas McMullin professor and dean of the university’s College of Medicine, according to the Texas A&M Health Science Center website. She was also a professor emeritus at the University of Utah School of Medicine, where she worked for more than 20 years.
“Dr. Byington is a practicing pediatrician, a researcher, and an experienced administrator. Her broad experience will help UC Health continue its journey in conducting groundbreaking research, the training of health professionals, and commitment to public service, including caring for those without insurance,” said UCOP spokesperson Elisa Smith in an email.
Byington studies bacterial and viral pathogens in children, and she currently holds grants from both the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to pursue her research. Studying infectious disease transmission, Byington focuses on specific pathogens such as enteroviruses, respiratory viruses, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis, according to the University of Utah School of Medicine website.
Byington was also chair of the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Infectious Disease Advisory Group, which was tasked with addressing the Zika outbreak during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, and she advocates for the expansion of vaccine funding for American children. Her specialties include general pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases, for which she holds recognized board certifications, according to the Texas A&M Health Science Center website.
“UC Health looks forward to Dr. Byington joining as executive vice president. Her positive impact will be felt for many years as the organization refines and executes on its strategic plan to, among other things, improve the health of the UC community and beyond,” Smith said in an email.
The UC Health system includes 18 professional schools across seven campuses, 12 health science educational hospitals, five medical centers, more than 5,000 medical residents and more than 14,000 students. UC Health also oversees student health and some employee health services, according to the press release.
Byington strives to improve quality and access of care in the medical system and address health disparities, according to the press release.
“It is such an honor to be returning to (the UC). I look forward to working with the many talented students, faculty and staff to reach new heights in health care transformation to further improve the health and lives of all those in our state and nation,” Byington said on Twitter on Friday.
